Chapter Nine: Secret in the Wash Room

Inside the wash room, Merry helped his cousin into the large bathtub, taking great care with his healing wrist. He had rewrapped Pippin's splint with clean bandages while he set the dirty ones aside for later washing.

"Where are you going?" Pippin demanded.

"To get fresh towels! Do you wish to drip dry until supper this evening?"

Pippin entertained himself trying to make the bar of soap float, "Of course not, but what about my cloth?"

Merry looked towards the stool next to the tub, "It's right there! If you were any closer it would bite your nose!"

"I know that!" Pippin replied, matter-of-factly, "But how am I supposed to soap it?"

Merry saw Pippin waving his bandaged arm in the air, "Oh. Well, I'm only going to be a moment!"

A sparkle came to Pippin's eye, "All right, but I will help you along--I'll first get the cloth wet!" Pippin pounded the wash cloth into the water, splashing a wall of water towards Merry.

Merry recoiled as water soaked through the overcoat to his nightshirt; then he heard his cousin laughing at him from the tub. Merry shook the excess water from his hair, then moved towards Pippin.

Pippin's eyes got wide in anticipation of Merry's retribution and ducked under the water.

"Pipp--!", then Merry could have sworn the room suddenly turned upside down. He caught himself just in time with all fours on the floor before he fell there...off balance.

Out of breath, Pippin came up sputtering from under water with his eyes shut tightly, "Give me a towel, Merry! I got soap in my eyes!"

Disoriented, Merry crawled in the direction where the towels were and grabbed one. He could hear Pippin sniffling; his nose apparently watering from his burning in eyes. Merry used the folding table to stand up and steady himself.

"Merry!! Hurry! My eyes are burning!"

Merry found if he walked slowly, he was able to keep the room in focus. He reached his cousin and wiped his eyes with the dry towel, then sat on the stool next to the tub.

"What's the matter with you, Merry?" Pippin was able to open his eyes now. "What took you so long?"

"I can't walk without the room spinning!" Merry answered.

Pippin noticed his cousin's look of anxiousness, "You can't walk at all? Why is that?"

"What did you say?"

Pippin repeated his question, "I said, why is it you can't walk?"

"I can walk, Pippin--I just get a little...off balance!" Merry said.

Pippin became concerned for Merry, "Shall I call for my mother or my sister?"

"No! I'll be all right later; whatever you do, don't tell anyone!"

"Why not?"

"Because your Dad will think that I am ill and then put another day onto my three days of bed rest!" , Merry answered.

Pippin studied his cousin, "This has happened before, hasn't it?"

"Hmmm?"

"What--are you hard of hearing now?" Pippin dramatically moved his mouth, "I SAID, this has happened before, HAS IT NOT?"

Merry shrugged, "Only after a swim; that's why I don't go swimming as much as I used to!" Then he playfully smacked Pippin's head, "and don't be cocky!" He grabbed the wash cloth and motioned for Pippin to hand him the cake of soap.

"I wouldn't have to be if you didn't keep your secrets to yourself!" Pippin scolded the older lad, "Does your being off-balance have something to do with your hearing?"

"It's not a secret, Pippin!", said Merry, working up a lather with the cloth. "The healer at Brandy Hall has told me that when I go for a swim, I can expect to be off balance for a day or so. It doesn't always happen, but when it does, I know it by the way everything sounds as if I'm still underwater."

"So," Pippin grinned as he took the soapy cloth from Merry, "every time you go swimming, I can expect to repeat nearly everything I say--did I get that right?"

"I don't mean to interrupt your being a complete ass, but could you sit still so I can wash your filthy head?"

"I already washed my head!", Pippin protested.

"I can see that! That's why I'm washing it again!"

Pippin thought more on his friend; "You will be fine later on?"

"Positively!", Merry replied, "So don't worry--and let's keep this to ourselves!"

Pippin didn't like this, but he knew how much Merry hated being cooped up indoors. "All right--but I won't lie to my Papa!"

"Don't!", Merry's overconfidence was building up again, "Because he won't be able to notice a thing!"